Chapter 4 YOU'RE GROWN UP

After thirty minutes in the car, they finally arrived at Marla's place. It was a long drive but she never got bored with Cathy. Her friend has so many stories to tell even if they are always together. They come down from the car. Their eyes looked around and they could see that all the cars parked at the side of the road were pretty expensive. "Wow, look. There are a lot of luxurious cars here." Cathy said as they walked inside Marla's house. "So true. It seems that the party already started, Cathy." The party already began because they could hear the music from outside. "Yeah, but I don't think we have missed anything yet." "I guess so. Let's be quick. " Mary Ann said, walking a bit fast. "Hey, wait for me," Cathy said as she tried to catch up on her. The party is held at the backside of the three-story house.  There's a kidney-shaped swimming pool.  The area is ornamented with colorful fancy lights and decorative plants embellishing the beauty of the place.  A photoshoot booth is at the main entrance. Marla loves to take photos, so for sure, this is her idea. From their position, they could see the table of the celebrant with her three-layered cake. At the side located are the spritzer bar which will give the guests mixing their own spritzer for fun. And, there's a barbecue griller too. "She said it's a simple party." Mary Ann said. Cathy chuckled." Define simple for her." She shook her head. They finally saw Marla among the crowd. She saw them waving her hand so they started walking towards her. "Here you are, I thought you're not coming!" Marla welcomed them with a big hug.  She looked angelic in her light pink and white off-shoulder mermaid gown. "We made a promise." She smiled at Marla. "I am sorry if we are late." "No..no.. no. You just came on time. Thank you for coming." She held both Cathy and Mary Ann's hands. "Come guys, I'll introduce you to my big brother and his friend." Marla guided them and they walked together. Their friend's father is a government official but aside from that she really came from one of the richest families in the city. She's the youngest. She has a big brother so that's why she shouldn't be surprised at how big the party has been thrown for her. Marla is one of our closest friends and at the same time their classmate in high school. They just got separated when they were going to college. Marla took up nursing while she and Cathy decided to take business administration. She isn't mistaken. There's a lot of guests already when they arrived.  Some look familiar to her and she knows some of them.  She smiled and waved her hand when she saw a familiar face. One of her classmates in high school. She couldn't stop to say hi because Marla is holding her hand. Many of the guests are their old classmates and friends, while the others may be her new classmates and Marla's relatives. "You aren't mistaken," Cathy murmured to her. "Huh?" "You are right saying this is a reunion." " I told you." She said and smiled. "This looks more like our high school reunion than her birthday." She continued to say. She could see the familiar faces from their high school class. Finally, they reached a table and Marla had them sit down and left to look for her brother. "Alright, girls. Just stay here. I will go and grab my brother." The celebrant said with a smile at them. "Okay, don't worry about us." Just in a few minutes, Marla came back but this time she had her big brother with her. "Hi, guys," Marla said to catch their attention. "Uhm… Remember him?" She asked them while her eyes were so bright. She looked at the guy intently and tried to remember who he was. "Oh, come on. This is my big brother." She said, "This is Mary Ann and Cathy. They are my friends and classmates from when I was in high school." Marla tries to remind her brother who they are. Arnel stared at her and Cathy. "Seriously?" Marla said and shook her head, " They are the girls who I always have here at the house to do a group project." Mary Ann saw Arnel pointing her fingers at her as if there's like a bulb that lights up inside her head. "Oh yes, I remember you." He uttered. "And, you." This time she pointed to Cathy. They both smiled at him. "You remember them now?" Marla asks her brother.  Arnel nodded, "Wow... You're both grown up and both pretty." Surprise drew to his face. Mary Ann couldn't say a word. She could feel her face burning hot from the compliment. She is aware that she's blushing. Arnel has been her crush since high school. Whenever they have a group project she usually chooses Marla to be a groupmate so they can go here and she can see Arnel. Arnel was already in college at that time. She just responded with a polite smile. "Oh, by the way, let me introduce to you my friend, John." Mary Ann turned her gaze to the man beside Arnel. She didn't notice that there was another man standing in front of them. The man is tall with a medium body build. He has fair skin for a man.  His face is round in shape with high cheekbones. She looked at his brown curly hair perfectly paired down to his thick arched eyebrows. She was captivated by his brown eyes that had long eyelashes. It seems his eyes are enchanting.  His pointed nose and full red lips make him more attractive. He is wearing a plain white polo shirt. She noticed his big arms and under that shirt, she could see a nice chest. He paired his blue ripped jeans with converse shoes. The guy smiled at them." Hi, I am John and pleased to meet you." He said with his manly voice that sounds with natural hoarseness. He extended his hands for a handshake. Mary Ann gently shook her head as she came back to her senses. She stared a bit longer than expected at the guy in front of her. She hopes that John didn't notice it. "I am Mary Ann. Marla's friend and this is Cathy." She said and politely accepted the guy's hand as soon as she recovered. The temperature in his palms passed into her cold hands and into her blood. Mary Ann's fingers trembled slightly and she could feel weak in her knees. After introducing and getting to know each other, Marla excused herself to entertain some of her guests. "Guys, I hate to leave but I need to go and check the other guests." She said looking apologetic to them. "No, that's okay. We can manage." Cathy said. "Go, don't worry about them. We won't leave them." Arnel said to his sister. "Thank you, big brother. Please make sure that they will enjoy the party." She said and smiled at them and then turned her back to entertain the other guests. The four of them were left on the table. "Girls, do you want to have some drinks?" Arnel asked. "Only pineapple juice for me, please?" Mary Ann said. "Apple juice…" Cathy said. They haven't tried to drink any alcohol before and she cannot drink because her grandmother will get angry if she will smell her with alcohol when she comes back home. "Oh, you are still little girls then," Arnel said after hearing what they wanted for their drinks. She just smiled as a response. John is just sitting quietly at the table and letting Arnel start a conversation. He doesn't know why but it seems that he was charmed by the woman that is in front of her. It is as if a spell has been cast at him and it made him frozen and just stare at her angelic face. Mary Ann has a pair of almond-shaped small eyes in brown color. She had a pointed small nose and her hair was ebony-black.  Maybe, she wasn't able to stop the party when she entered but she was able to make her world stop. She doesn't wear any makeup but she was able to captivate John. Her blue lace dress perfectly fit her body. It highlighted her slender waist, big butt, and each curve of her. He could say at a young age, Mary Ann has a shapely figure. "How about you, John?" Arnel's voice made him come back to his senses. "Huh?"  Arnel frowned but John could see that his friend was able to read what's on his mind.  "What do you want to drink?" "Ah, right. Just wine will do, please."  "Okay, then." Arnel hands him a glass of wine. John just hoped that Mary Ann didn't notice that he was staring at her earlier.